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Code of Ethics

Solo Fitness & Wellness Specialists, as members of the Fitness & Wellness profession, have ethical responsibilities to Solo Fitness & Wellness, clients, society, as well as to other Fitness & Wellness professionals.

The following ethical foundations for professional activities serve as a Code of Conduct for Solo Fitness & Wellness specialist. The Code implements many of these foundations in the form of rules of ethical conduct. Noncompliance with the Code may affect an individual's initial or continuing status as an independent contractor or employee for Solo Fitness & Wellness.

Ethical Foundations

I. The Specialist-Client relationship: The welfare of the client is central to all considerations in the Specialist-client relationship. Included in this relationship is the obligation of the Specialist to respect the rights of clients, colleagues and other Medical and Health professionals. Specialists have an obligation to communicate only factual information and never misrepresent competency on any level particularly one that is outside the scope of the profession. Specialists must respect that the right of a client to make his/her own choices about his/her Medical and Health activities is fundamental. The principle of justice requires strict avoidance of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or any other basis that would constitute illegal discrimination (justice).
II. Specialist conduct and practice: The Specialist should only deal honestly with clients and colleagues. This includes not misrepresenting himself or herself through any form of communication in an untruthful, misleading, or deceptive manner. Furthermore, maintenance of professional competence through study, application, and enhancement of fitness & wellness knowledge and skills is an obligation of the practicing Specialist. All Specialists are required to participate in, and report, continued learning. Solo Fitness & Wellness professionals are obligated to respond to evidence of questionable conduct or unethical behavior by any other Solo Fitness & Wellness member through appropriate procedures established by Solo Fitness & Wellness.

III. Avoiding conflicts of interest: Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in the practice of the Specialist. Specialists are expected to recognize such situations and deal with them in accordance with the best interests of the client.

IV. Professional relations: The Specialist should respect and cooperate with other Specialists and allied Medical and Health professionals. Specialists should not participate in activities of a professional nature, nor represent themselves as qualified to perform tasks, which are outside the scope of the Specialist profession. Solo Fitness & Wellness Specialists have an obligation to identify those individuals perpetrating acts that are professionally inappropriate.

V. Societal responsibilities: The Specialist has a continuing responsibility to society as a whole and should support and participate in activities that enhance the community. As a member of society, the Specialist must respect the laws of that society. As professionals and representatives of Solo Fitness & Wellness, Specialists are required to uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and comply with professional standards of practice.

Code of Conduct

I. Client-Specialist Relationship

1. The Client-Specialist relationship is the central focus of all ethical concerns, and the welfare of the client should form the basis of all health and wellness judgments.
2. The Specialist should serve the client by exercising all reasonable means to ensure that the most appropriate training health & wellness recommendations are provided to the client.
3. The Client-Specialist relationship has an ethical basis and is built on confidentiality, trust, and honesty. The Specialist must adhere to all applicable legal or contractual constraints while in the Client-Specialist relationship.
4. Sexual misconduct on the part of the Specialist is an abuse of professional power and a violation of client trust. Sexual contact or a romantic relationship between a Specialist and a current client is always unethical.
5. The Specialist has an obligation to obtain Solo Fitness & Wellness’s informed consent of each client. In obtaining informed consent for any course of physical measurement or activity, the Specialist should present to the client, or to the person legally responsible for the client, in understandable terms, pertinent facts and recommendations consistent with good professional practice. Such information should include alternate modes of testing or physical activity and the objectives, risks, benefits, possible complications, and anticipated results of such activities or testing protocols.
6. It is unethical to recommend, refer, prescribe, provide, or seek compensation for therapies or products that are of no benefit to the client.
7. The Specialist should respect the rights of clients, colleagues, and others and safeguard client information and confidences within the limits of the law. If during the process of providing information for consent it is known that results of a particular test or other information must be given to governmental authorities or other third parties, it should be identified and explained to the client.
8. The Specialist should not discriminate against clients based on race, color, national origin, religion, or on any other basis that would constitute illegal discrimination. This being said, Specialists should know their professional limitations and not engage in inappropriate content for clients with special needs that the Specialist is not educated or trained to manage safely or effectively.

II. Specialist Conduct and Practice

1. The Specialist should recognize the boundaries of his or her particular competencies and expertise, and provide only those services and use only those techniques for which he or she is qualified by education, training, or experience.
2. The Specialist should participate in continuing education activities to maintain current scientific and professional knowledge relevant to the professional services he or she renders. The Specialist should provide services involving new preventative therapies or training techniques only after undertaking appropriate training and study.
3. In any training, consult or service environment, the Specialist should exercise careful judgment and take appropriate precautions to protect the client's welfare with regards to equipment, facilities and environmental factors as well as evaluate the condition of the client before each training session to ensure the designated activities are appropriate for the client at the time of delivery.
4. The Specialist should not publicize or represent himself or herself in any untruthful, misleading, or deceptive manner to clients, colleagues, other Medical and Health - care professionals, or the public. This includes identifying oneself as certified if the certification credential was never designated or the date of certification has expired.
5. The Specialist who has reason to believe that he or she is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus or other serious infectious agents that might be communicated to clients should voluntarily be tested for the protection of his or her clients. In making decisions about client evaluations, physical testing and training activities, a Specialist infected with such an agent should adhere to the fundamental professional obligation to avoid harm to clients.
6. The Specialist should not practice or attempt to provide professional services while impaired by alcohol, drugs of any kind, or physical or mental disability. The Specialist who experiences substance abuse problems or who is physically or emotionally impaired should seek appropriate assistance to address these problems and limit his or her professional practice until the impairment no longer affects the quality of client service.
7. The Specialist may not imply Solo Fitness & Wellness’s endorsement for commercial venture. Disclosure of affiliation and/or use of Solo Fitness & Wellness, Solo Fitness & Wellness tagline or logo are only to be used with permission from Solo Fitness & Wellness’s management. Disclosure in violation of this article may be grounds for disciplinary action.

III. Conflicts of Interest

1. Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in the field of Medical and Health and fitness. Conflicts of interest should be resolved in accordance with the best interest of the client. If there is concern about a possibly significant conflict of interest, the Specialist should disclose his or her concerns to the client. If a conflict of interest cannot be resolved, the Specialist should take steps to withdraw as a service provider for the client. If conflicts of interest are unresolved, the Specialist should seek consultation with colleagues or Solo Fitness & Wellness’s ethics committee.
2. Commercial promotions of Medical and Health - related products and services may generate bias unrelated to product merit, creating, or appearing to create, inappropriate undue influence. The Specialist should be aware of this potential conflict of interest and offer advice that is as accurate, balanced, complete, and devoid of bias as possible.
3. The Specialist should recommend nutritional modifications based solely upon published evidenced based findings and guidelines Medical and Health considerations and client needs, regardless of any direct or indirect interests in or benefit from a supplement company or other supplier.
4. When the Specialist receives anything of substantial value, including royalties, from companies in the Medical and Health -fitness industry, such as a manufacturer of supplements and fitness devices, this fact should be disclosed to clients and colleagues when material.

IV. Professional Relations

1. The Specialist's relationships with other Specialists, physicians and other allied Medical and Health professionals should reflect fairness, honesty, and integrity, sharing of mutual respect and concern for the client.
2. The Specialist should consult, refer, or cooperate with other Specialists, Medical and Health professionals, and institutions to the extent necessary to serve the best interests of their clients.
3. The Specialist should respect all laws, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, and accept the profession's self-imposed discipline. The professional competence and conduct of Specialists is best examined by professional associations and peer-review committees; active professionals should remain in good standard with these groups. These groups deserve the full participation and cooperation of the personal Specialist.
4. The Specialist should strive to address, through the appropriate procedures the status of those Specialists who demonstrate questionable competence, impairment, or unethical or illegal behavior. In addition, the Specialist should cooperate with appropriate authorities to prevent the continuation of such behavior.

V. Societal Responsibilities

1. The Specialist should support and participate in those Fitness & Wellness programs, practices, and activities that contribute positively, in a meaningful and effective way, to the welfare of individual clients, the Health community, or for the public good. This includes maintaining certification in Cardio-Pulmonary Recessitation (CPR) and participating in AED training and basic first aid when applicable.
2. Specialists who provide expert testimony in courts of law recognize their duty to testify truthfully. The Specialist should not testify concerning matters about which he or she is not knowledgeable. The Specialist should be prepared to have testimony, given in any judicial proceeding, subjected to peer-review by an institution or professional organization to which he or she belongs. It is unethical for a Specialist to accept compensation that is contingent upon the outcome of litigation.